Jasmine Wright
One of two pedestrian bridges at the former SHW/Farrel Foundry site at 35 N. Main St.
ANSONIA – Members of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen voted Sept. 10 to authorize a no-bid contract to the Stamford Wrecking company to remove old pedestrian bridges at the former SHW/Farrel Foundry site at 35 N. Main St.
The dollar amount has not been finalized. Stamford Wrecking quoted the city at $712,880 but the city asked them to revise their bid. Those negotiations are underway.
Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley said the bid process was being waived because the project is time-sensitive. The bridges run over sections of the Metro-North Railroad.
The Cassetti administration has wanted to remove the bridges for some time but has had difficulty making arrangements because of train service. Floods Aug. 18 forced the closure of the Waterbury train line, so the city wants to remove the bridges while train service is out.
In some municipalities, several steps are required to waive bids. In Derby, the city charter explains that bids for expensive projects can be waived in emergencies, with the approval of the mayor, a finance committee, the city clerk, the city’s legislative body, and the city’s tax board.
In Ansonia, corporation counsel John Marini said the Aldermen, as the city’s legislative body, have the authority to waive the bidding process without jumping through hoops.
“If they are coming to a decision that the bid waiver is necessary to promote the good of the city of Ansonia, then they have the ability to do that,” Marini said.
The city charter does not contain rules on when a bidding process may be waived.
The company was selected because they have previously done demolition work on the site, O’Malley said.
The two pedestrian bridges used to ferry workers between buildings when the SHW Casting Co. was operational. One of the bridges, pictured above, can be seen from the sidewalk of the Maple Street Bridge. The other is further back.
The demolition is part of a wider project to demolish the deteriorating, long-vacant industrial buildings at the site. The blighted conditions led to roof collapses in 2017 and in 2022.
The city took possession of the property in 2020 from Pandel Properties. In exchange, about $80,000 in delinquent property taxes were waived.
Also included in the pedestrian bridge demolition contract are two “pipe bridges,” which carried materials instead of people between buildings.
O’Malley said that, if the trains were running, then demolition work could only occur when the trains are out-of-service for the night. That would mean the work would be restricted to between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
While the trains are out, demolition can proceed using more standard work hours.
Marini also stressed the time element in presenting the bid waiver to the Aldermen.
“The timing is essential,” Marini said. “Obviously, the sky bridge operation was always going be a difficult one, coordinating with the tracks and the train service. Also, given the effects of the flood, it’s extra important that we address the bridges before they crumble under their own weight.”
O’Malley said that the demolition work would likely take about a month to complete, and estimated that going out to bid would add another month to the timeline.
O’Malley said work should start within the next two weeks.
Ansonia received $540,000 from the state in 2022 for the demolition of the bridges.
